"Jane Lindskold - Firekeeper Saga 2 - Wolf's Head, Wolf's Heart" - читать интересную книгу автора (Lindskold Jane)

central unit of shelves. Here again a key waited for him on a braided ribbon. It was also gold, its ring
shaped like the fat body of a whale, the teeth worked cleverly into the whale's spout.

Allister doubted that a twin of this key rested on Lord Ivory's ring. Indeed, he had seen it before,
dangling on a chain worn at the throat of his grandmother, Queen Gustin. She had never been without it.

Twisting the key in the lock, Allister opened the cabinet. Beside him, Shad turned from peeking into the
various jeweled boxes, waiting to see what must be kept trebly locked away. Both of them suspected
they already knew.

The center door creaked slightly when Allister opened it. Inside there was nothing but a roll of pale
vellum tied with a bright blue ribbon. Impressions in the plush velvet showed that once there had been
something else kept here, something that had left an indelible mark on the fabric.

Even before he unrolled the scroll, Allister knew that he had been betrayed. All that waited was to learn
how severely.

"My Royal Cousin," began the missive in what he recognized as Valora's own hand. It continued:



Yes. This is where they were kept.

I wonderтАФhow long after your arrival did you wait to seek the Royal Treasures? Did you run
immediately to gloat over what you had won? Somehow, knowing you, even in my darkest
moments I cannot believe that this was the case. Even if the treasures were on your mind, you
would be too courteous, too polite to the claims of those who had awaited your arrival to simply
order them away.

Knowing you, I suspect that you had to be reminded that there were treasures for you to claim.
Did Pearl say that she needed a crown for her pretty head? Did some flunky hint gently that you
were overlooking something important? Or did it take the Keeper of the Keys offering his fealty
to suggest that you seek out this room?

I told old Ivory to remind you, you know. That much I've done for you. Actually, I've done a great
deal more. My last gift to the people I was born to rule is taking from them the shadow of Old
Country magic. Those three trinkets have been the excuse for war, not just recently, but from the
days of our great-grandfather Gustin Sailor.

So I've taken them with me. Now, no one will have reason to fear Bright Bay. If they choose to
fear me, isolated on my Isles, well, the ocean is my moat.

How will anyone know what I have done? I shall tell them. On the day of your coronation, letters
will be delivered by hand to the rulers of Stonehold, Waterland, New Kelvin, and Hawk Haven.

Enjoy your reign, Cousin, long as it may last.



The letter was signed, "Valora, Queen of the Isles."